SafeTrade Station News

Police in Williams, Ariz., have set up a "Meetup Spot" outside the Williams Police Station for people to conduct online transactions in safety.

A Meetup sign is posted on the front of the Williams Police Station. The location is a safe-zone for transactions and is under continuous surveillance 24 hours a day.​The front parking area of the building is well-lit. No appointments are necessary.

With the increasing popularity of internet sales and trade, the Camden Police Department has seen a need to provide a safe location for those that buy, sell, or trade items on Internet-based classified ad forums such as craigslist.com or the facebook.com classifieds.

​At least two police departments in Arkansas recently installed safe-exchange zones that feature a few parking spaces, signs and surveillance cameras. The Batesville Police Department created a safe zone in mid-February, and the Springdale Police Department built its zone Feb. 29.In coming months, several of the state's larger-city police departments plan to do the same. The Little Rock and North Little Rock departments expect to post signs and designate parking in several of their respective precincts. The Jonesboro Police Department hopes to have a zone in place by May 1.